Come and be part of Boston’s welcome to the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins – Update

Come and be part of Boston’s welcome to the

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins

Commemoration of the Great Irish Famine

The President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins will deliver a lecture on the Famine and its impact on Ireland and Boston at historic Faneuil Hall in the Quincy Market Place on Saturday 5 May 2012 at 11.15am.

The lecture will be followed by a musical programme featuring acclaimed Irish and local Boston musicians including Frankie Gavin, produced by WGBH’s Brian O’Donovan. This event is free and open to the public but guests wishing to attend are asked to register at bostoncongen@dfa.ie or by phoning the Consulate on 617 267 9330 ext 13. Guests are asked to be in their seats no later than 11.00am.

The event will last approximately one hour and will be followed immediately by a short wreath laying ceremony at the Boston Irish Famine Memorial on the corner of School Street and Washington Street, at which the Boston Police Force ‘Gaelic Column’ Band will perform. Guests are asked to proceed directly from Faneuil Hall to the memorial for the wreath laying ceremony.

Speaking to the BIR, Consul General Michael Lonergan encouraged people to attend what should be a wonderful event for the entire community. “This is the new President’s first visit to the United States and we are greatly honoured and delighted that he has chosen to come to Boston and lead the commemorations for the Great Irish Famine here in the capital of Irish America. I am sure very many members of our community here will want to come along and be part of what will be a wonderful event both at Faneuil Hall and the Famine Memorial to which all are welcome.”